Automatic primer



Feb '7, E195@ H. E. (5055 AUTOMATIC PRIMER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 INVENTOR. HARRY E. 6055 m M m T A" Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC PRIMER Harry E. Goss, San Francisco, Calif.

Application January 11, 1946, Serial No. 640,611

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic primer for use in a liquid. pressure line for supplying liquid to the trap in a floor drain or to any desired point.

Floor drains are usually connected with the sewer for draining into the latter, and a trap is provided in the drain pipe for preventing the escape of sewer gas into the room in which the drain is located. These traps are of the conventional liquid type, and modern plumbing ordinances require that every floor drain be furnished with an automatic primer to supply water to the trap. The approved method of installing such a primer is in the water pressure line supplying a regularly used plumbing fixture, such as the supply line leading to a toilet tank, or to a frequently used faucet. The primer is intended for actuation with each passage of water through the pressure line for supplying a small amount of water to the floor drain trap.

One of the principal diiiiculties in primers that have generally been employed is the fact that corrosion or liming on the parts either prevents opening of the primer for passing water to the floor drain trap, or else the primer stays open with the result that there is a constant flow of water into the trap.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a primer that is positive in its action and that is reliable, inasmuch as there are no closely machined metal parts, hence accumulations of corrosion or lime will not render the primer inoperative.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a primer that is economical to make, simple, and positive in its. action, and that is economical in use.

Other objects and. advantages will appear in the drawings and in the description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating a typical primer installation.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional and part elevationalv view of a primer embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the primer taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 shwing one method of casting the body portion of the primer and indicating some of the. symmetrical portions of the invention in. elevation.

In detail, referring to Fig. 1, atypical primer installation may be one. in which the water pressure line. I connects with a toilet tank 2, and the primer 3 comprises a body forming a section of said fluid pressure line i so that each time the toilet is flushed, water will flow through the line 1 including primer 3 into bowl 2. A drain line 4 leads from the primer 3 to the floor drain pipe 5. that is connected with the sewer, the point of connection. of line. t wi h the drain pipe, being above the conventional goose neck liquid trap 6. This trap must be kept filled with water or otherwise sewer gas and vermin will escape into: the room. There is a constant evaporation of the water in the trap, and it is the purpose of the primer 3 to permit a small amount of water to flow into drain pipe a each time the toilet flushed. Of course, the primer may be in any other relatively frequently used liquid pressure line, but the above described installation is typical of one that is generally approved.

The primer 3 com-prises a horizontally elongated hollow body it that is formed at one. end with an inlet and at the. opposite end with an outlet, the inlet being threaded for connection with the pressure line i at the upstream side of the body it, while the outlet is threaded for connection with the line, i at the downstream side or the side nearest bowl 2.

A partition ll divides the body into an inlet chamber i2 and an outlet chamber #3, the former being on the. upstream or high pressure side, while the latter is at the. downstream or low pressure side of the partition.

The partition H is formed with a horizontal section it above and in spaced opposed relation to the bottom. wall lb of body Hi. The section. [4 and bottom wall l5 are formed with coaxial openings of about the same size, and in the opening in section i4 is threadedly secured, an annular valve seat [6. that has an annular ridge projecting axially thereof into the outlet chamber 13.

A pipe section l! comprising a. drain passageway is threaded at one end into the opening in the. bottom [5, and this section carries an annular valve seat l8 in its end that is in said open ing, which seat has an annular ridge formed therein projecting axially thereof into the inlet chamber l2.

The upper side of the body in may also be formed with a relatively large annular opening and against the upper marginal portion of such opening is clamped the marginal portion of a circular flexible diaphragm 26... The flange 2| of a cap 22 is clamped by bolts 23 to said body with the marginal portion of the diaphragm between said flange and body, which cap forms one of the Walls of a diaphragmv chamber 24 above saidv diaphragm, while the diaphragm forms, the other wall.

Diaphragm 2c is coaxial with the valve seats. I6. I25 and centrally of said diaphragm on the side next the seat it is an annular valve member 25, preferably of relatively soft metal, which may be.

-- lead. Washers 26., 21 on opposite sides of the.

diaphragm permit light rocking of the 'dia phragm relative to member 25 without injury to. the diaphragm, and a stem 28 extends through said washers. and diaphragmv while nuts. 2.9 on stem 28 respectively, below member 25 and above 3 washer 28 tightly secure the washers and member and the diaphragm together.

A stem portion 29 extends downwardly and into the drain passageway in section II, said portion being threaded into a circular valve member 30 in axial alignment with the main stem.

The circular valve member 30 is secured on the lower end of the stem 28 by means of a pin 3| that extends through an opening 32 in the lower end of stem 28, said pin being carried by a hollow boss 33 on valve member 30, and into which boss the lower end of the stem 28 extends.

A rubber or composition disk 34 may be carried in a recess formed in the bottom of member 30 for seating against the ridge on the seat I8. A nut 35 threaded on the stem portion 29 secures the disk 34 in said recess.

The opening 32 is slightly wider in its vertical dimension than it is horizontally, thus permitting a slight vertical play of the valve member 30 relative to the stem. Thus valve members 25 and 30 will always properly seat on their seats l6, l8.

The interior of the passageway in the drain section I! is restricted at one point by a radially inwardly projecting flange 40, the inner edges of which define an annular aperture having a diameter only slightly larger than the outside diameter of the stem portion 29. However, the part of stem portion 29 that is within said aperture when the valve members 25, 33 are closed, is formed with an annular groove 4!, thus providing a considerable clearance between the portion 29 and the edges of said aperture. However, as soon as the valves move to open position the part of the stem below groove 4| will move into the aperture, thus restricting the amount of liquid permitted to flow through the aperture to a relatively small amount.

By the above structure it will be seen that the portion 29 and the flange form a metering means in the drain passageway in pipe section H.

The pipe section I! is threaded at its lower end for threaded engagement with the pipe 5, and openings 44 in said section I! open the said section to the atmosphere to prevent any possibility of contamination of the water supply by siphonage of water from the sewer line. The openings 44 may be omitted of course if discharge of liquid into pipe 4 against a pressure head is desired.

The diaphragm 20 is formed with an opening 45 that permits water in the downstream side of the partition H to pass from chamber l3 into chamber 24 and vice versa, while a small drainage aperture 46 is formed in partition i I to enable draining for preventing damage from freezing.

In operation, upon flushing the toilet the pressure on the downstream side of partition H is reduced, whereby valve 25 and valve 30 will open, water in the diaphragm chamber being passed through opening 45 into the outlet chamber, which action prevents objectionably fast opening of the valves.

Water will be free to pass into the drain passageway, but the restricted aperture therein will keep any great amount of water from passing to the trap 5. In fact, only the desired amount will be allowed to pass. Any possible accumulation of corrosion or lime will be cleared from the restricted aperture in passageway i1 due to the movement of the stem portion 29 in said aperture.

As soon as the water in line I ceases to flow to the toilet bowl, the pressures on opposite sides of the partition I I will be equalized and the valves will automatically close. The weight of the valve member 25 is sufiicient to facilitate this closing and there is no tension on diaphragm 20 that would tend to hold the valves open.

The closing of the valves results in the stem portion 29 moving down until the groove 4| is in the aperture defined by flange 40, thus there is ample clearance between said stem portion and the aperture to prevent any possibility of the corrosion or liming of the adjacent parts. Stems 28 and 29 very freely pass through the valve seats i6, i8 so there is no possibility of sticking of the valves at these points. Also the valve members are fiat and not conical, so there is no objectionable friction between the valves and their seats.

In view of the above explanation, it is seen that there is no likelihood of failure of the primer to properly function at all times and in an economical manner.

I claim:

1. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicatin with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber secured together for simultaneous movement to and from a position closing said passageway and said opening, an apertured fiex ible diaphragm in said outlet chamber supporting said members for said movement.

2. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicatin with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber, a flexible aperturcd diaphragm in said outlet chamber, a stem connecting said diaphragm and said valve members together for simultaneous corresponding reciprocatory movement and supporting said valve members for closing said passageway and said opening at one end of their stroke and for opening them at the opposite end of such stroke.

3. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicating with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber, a flexible apertured diaphragm in said outlet chamber, a stem connecting said diaphragm and said valve members together for simultaneous corresponding reciprocatory movement and supporting said valve members for closing said passageway and said opening at one end of their stroke and for opening them at the opposite end of such stroke, said stem extending loosely through said opening and into said passageway, cooperating means on said stem and in said passageway for automatically restricting the flow of liquid through said passageway upon movement of said valve members with said stem to open position.

4. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicating with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber secured together for simultaneous movement to and from a position closing said passageway and said opening, an apertured flexible diaphragm in said outlet chamber supporting said members for said movement, said valve members and said diaphragm in coaxial vertical alignment and one of said members being weighted for causing suflicient downward flexing of said diaphragm for seating of said valve members by gravity in closed position upon the pressure in said inlet and outlet chambers being equalized.

5. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicating with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber secured together for simultaneous movement to and from a position closing said passa eway and said opening, an apertured flexible diaphragm in said outlet chamber supporting said members for said movement, each of said valves being formed with a flat seating surface for seating against an annular ridge, and an annular ridge around said opening and around the end of the passageway that opens into said inlet chamber for providing seats for said members.

6. A primer comprising a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line, said body having a partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an inlet chamber on the upstream side and an outlet chamber on the downstream side, said inlet chamber having a lower wall provided with a drain passageway communicating with said inlet chamber and an opening formed in said partition communicating between said chambers, a pair of valve members respectively in said inlet chamber and outlet chamber, a flexible apertured diaphragm in said outlet chamber, a stem connecting said diaphragm and said valve members together for simultaneous corresponding reciprocatory movement and supporting said valve members for closing said passageway and said opening at one end of their stroke and for opening them at the opposite end of such stroke, said passageway being formed with a restricted diameter portion therein, said stem extending through said portion, an annular recess formed in the outer side of the part of said stem that is in said portion when said valve members are in closed position whereby movement of said stem with said members to open position will cause movement of the part of said stem adjacent said recess with said portion reducing the flow of liquid through said portion.

'7. In a primer having a hollow body and a partition dividing the interior thereof into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and which partition and inlet chamber are respectively provided with spaced opposed horizontal wall sections with the partition section uppermost, an inlet and an outlet respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet chambers, an opening formed in the horizontal wall section of said partition wall and a drain partition substantially coaxial with said opening extending through the said section of the wall of said inlet chamber, a flexible diaphragm above said opening defining a section of the wall of said outlet chamber, a portion of the said body at the side of said diaphragm outwardly of said outlet chamber being enlarged to provide a diaphragm chamber, an aperture formed in said diaphragm, a stem carried by said diaphragm extending loosely through said opening and into said passageway, a pair of valve elements on said stem above said opening and said passageway respectively movable to positions closing said opening and said passageway upon equalization of pressure on opposite sides of said diaphragm, and movable to positions opening said opening and said passageway upon the pressure in said inlet chamber being higher than that in said outlet chamber.

8. In a primer having a hollow body and a par- 1 tition dividing the interior thereof into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and which partition and inlet chamber are respectively provided with spaced opposed horizontal wall sections with the partition section uppermost, an inlet and an outlet respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet chambers, an opening formed in the horizontal wall section of said partition wall and a drain passageway substantially coaxial with said opening extending through the said section of the wall of said inlet chamber, a flexible diaphragm above said opening defining a section of the wall of said outlet chamber, a portion of the said body at the side of said'diaphragm outwardly of said outlet chamber being enlarged to provide a diaphragm chamber, an aperture formed in said diaphragm, a stem carried by said diaphragm extending loosely through said opening and into said passageway, a pair of valve elements on said stem above said opening and said passageway respectively movable to positions closing said opening and said passageway upon equalization of pressure on opposite sides of said diaphragm, and movable to positions openin said opening and said passageway upon the pressure in said inlet chamber being higher than that in said outlet chamber, and means in said passageway including a portion of said stem and passageway for metering liquid draining into said passageway.

HARRY E. GOSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,967,644 Williams July 24, 1934 2,096,287 McDougall Oct. 19, 1937 2.09%),939 McDougall Nov. 23, 1937 

